Maldonboy38

After being totally deflated when the Barasssi return did not produce success, along comes Swooper. And bugger me if he didn't put a fire in the belly of every player on the list, and the fear of death into every opposition player who dared challenge the Dees. I went to both of the finals versus Swans and North in 1987, and my abiding memory is of the crowd yelling in unison "Robiiieee" when Flower ran onto the ground against North for his first final. Sometime in the preseason, give him 2 hours with our current list. Let them catch the fire!

I'm not a fan of trading him. Like the rest of the club he had a nightmare 2019, and this year he looked slow and immobile. But his footy before that was very, very good. Do we just consign that to the basket marked "in the past" and so trade him out? I would like to see what Burgess and the medical team can do with him over the summer, because looking at him, I am convinced he is either 1)carrying a foot, ankle, knee or leg issue, or 2) has something else that is restricting his running an fitness. I remember him being one of our best runners over a number of years; let's see if we can get that back before offering to the altar of sacrifice known as the draft and trade period.

He is definitely an AFL standard ruckman, and now he is fit enough should be first ruck in a team somewhere. He would have to be considering where and how he can now make it happen. Probably Sydney or GWS but We can't give him away for some obscure third round pick, or some trade for middle second round draft position - we have to get value for him considering we have put 2 years of coaching and finances into him. I would be looking for a draft position + player trade, and the player would need to fill a specific gap in our list.

His best was as good as it gets. His worst was as bad as it gets. Much of the ordinary games in the middle he was serviceable like most other AFL players. At a club with a horrible history of stuffing up really good young footballers, this one stands out. Unforgiveable by MFC footy department at the time to play him in that QB game, when he should have spent at least 12 months (probably longer) developing. The fact he got 178 games is testament to his natural ability, resilience and perseverance. My best memory is of him having a bounce along the southern wing, and then out of nowhere lets go a 45 degree, 45 metre pass to space for Trengove to mark and goal at the Punt Rd end. Only Yze, Trav Johnstone and Watts coud kick like this. He was so frustrating to watch when going for the ball, but with ball in hand I could relax and watch with confidence in his precision. Isn't it strange that we could use a player with exactly his skill set right now!

He is well good enough to be our 2nd wing, across the ground from Langdon. Would only take him if North paid half his ridiculous salary. Also, it sounds like Shaw has made a number of player blunders this year trying to establish himself coaching a list he knows needs to be turned over, so Polec wanting out of North might be a reasonable response. The issue that rings alarm bells for me, is this would be his 4th club. Sounds a bit Mitch Clark-ish to me; a very talented footballer whose approach to team sport is too mercenary. There are others I would pursue before him.

No way get rid of Fritsch. Fix his kicking and he is a nightmare for backmen. Remember Petracca's set shots early in his career? Bad kicking is fixable. Footy smarts is almost unteachable.

My 55+ years of supporting Melbourne, all in one quarter. Stuff me that was gut wrenching. And Jake Leve might have just earned his salary - great last quarter.

Every year, I end up with post-of-the-year. I now have it. This is pure gold. For me and my household, this nickname will now stick (unless he fixes his goal kicking).

Love watching this - to see us playing with movement, hitting targets, almost everyone contributing. But Essendon are dreadful. Neeld-esque. Some of their chasing and defensive efforts are embarrassing. We really can't take too much from this game so far. But I m loving it. Dees thriving. Bombers annihilated.

We are playing all over Essendon. We can't finish some really good passages of play. The last handball in the chain being unnecessary and error riddled, is absolutely killing us.

Our last 2 games were losses because of intensity and effort. I can't see what has changed just because our President had a crack publicly, we are trying different players, and an Age journo has done a trifling fluff piece about power plays behind the scenes. We will probably win well this week, then get thrashed next week. This is Melbourne way. I have spoken. (kudos to the Mandalorian!)

Right on, Mazer. I turned the game off at half time - unwatchable. Defensive strategy has totally overwhelmed the essential attacking nature of our great game. We now have endless faff-minutes, where teams kick in a semi circle across half back like soccer, hockey etc... trying to find or set up a pathway through a crowded midfield which in turn, becomes a crowded forward line. 20 players around the ball, tackle after tackle and the main excitment from commentators seems to be about how great pressure is!! It is supposed to be the skills of our game that is great, not tackles and defensive networks. And to cap it off, the power forwards are continually blocked from running at the ball by defenders with no eye for the ball, allowing a third player up to intercept. People keep celebrating Rance, Lever, Vlastuin, Allir etc... The only reason they take so many intercept marks is because Dixon, Ben Brown, Hawkins, Kennedy etc... are strategically blocked from the play. That game between Tiges and Cats should have been a belter, and it was a boring drudge. If the current emphasis, rules, and state of play continues, the Tiges will win 5 flags with their current list and coach, but the journey there for the average fan will be as dull as bat poo.

In my 5 decades of following the Dees, the only time I felt confident about our mental state was with Northey as coach. I have been on a psychological roller coaster ever since. Even though Balme had us playing great footy, and Daniher was an inspiring and natural leader, there has been a continuing underbelly of mental fragility. And it is not only about players and lists, but from Presidents, CEO's and administrations. But in regards to games, we have a 30-40 year habit or working bloody hard to get ourselves into finals contention, only to mentally disintegrate against very weak opponents. And it has never been worse, than in the years after we sacked Dean Bailey. Even Paul roos couldn't fully get us to overcome it. And I'm sick and tired of it to the Nth degree.

Midfielder - I'd take Yze Or Trav Johnstone. Football perfection watching them kick. Power Forward - I'd take the Ox. I know his knees let him down, but talk about someone to take a match by the scruff of the neck and rag-dolling the carp out of his opponents. And because I'm really annoyed at everything Melbourne just at the moment, I'll take Ray Biffin and Rodney Grinter to dish out some pain to anyone who gets too close, with special regard for Essendon and Collingwood.

From that first handball by Petracca I had a very bad feeling in my gut. And then Viney (Ithink) got caught with the ball trying to evade a tackle. I turned to my 25 year old Dees-mad daughter and we both said "Oh no, it's this again". And so went the evening. I shoud be used to this feeling, but I'm not. ruins the rest of my week/weekend.

How predictable. Poor opponent, finals on the line, everything to play for. No energy, no passion, lifeless, heartless, dumb. Even if we win from here, there are alarm bells everywhere.

How different is it to read this, compared to the Pies, Tigers and Hawks fan sites? Most of it is reasonable, considered and articulate. I wonder how we stack up?

Not sure we have a match-up for Papley, and he is the only real concern I have. If Jetta was in form I would trust his discipline and smarts. He has a natural goal sense and can change a game in a 10 minute period. Probably Harmes or Rivers.

2 issues dominate selection: 5 day turnaround heading towards finals (hopefully) means some players will get rotated in or out. Historically, Goodwin makes very few changes after a win. OUT: OMac or Tomlinson (due to Sydney's short forward line) Kozzie. A lot of faffing about for little impact IN: Lochhart Fritsch (very frustrating but he is a goal kicker and demands a good backman play on him)

I love the way Naughton plays. Don't care what jumper he is in (although I would love him at the Dees), he makes me watch.

Our greatest need, in order of priority: A player/coach who leads by inspiring fear, devotion, skill and consistent high standard of performance. A single dominant, magnetic individual (Barassi, Clarkson, Selwood, Hodge, Voss, Matthews, Carey) A home base that is OURS! (should be the MCG but that ship has long sailed)

We should have won a flag under his leadership last time - he had an amazing list. Club was a disgrace. Right now we have another very good list. Club is functioning very well under Glen Barltett. We have to at least make the phone call. I'd have him back in a heartbeat, bit I reckon he no longer has the motivation for head coaching role.

Wow there have been some free-to-air howlers this year, but this one has to rank right up there. Has there been a rule change prohibiting players kicking longer than 20 metres?

Massive yes, but not at any price.

Very difficult to limit it but I will do my best: The shadowy years Alves, Wells and Flower. Honestly, these three were guns but unfortunately Alves and Wells left for success. Re-emergence Flower, B Lovett, Lyon, A Johnson Amazing era Lyon, Ox, Farmer, Tingay, Yze More dark days N Jones, Jurrah, B Green Current, N Jones, Brayshaw, Jetta